Pere Ubu

[Dave]

<img src="http://www.indigo.de/img/interpret/big/694.jpg">

The musical equivalent of Rene Magritte & Salvadore Dali, this band has become one of my favorites yet they’re rarely ever mentioned here. In fact, only one other NWO voter put them in their Top 25 list.

A few of the things I like about Pere Ubu:

• The warbley voice of Dave Thomas
• Un-commercial focus that they refer to as “avant garage”
• The thundering baseline in songs like Nonalignment Pact
• Surreal lyrics like:
Welcome to Mars!
It’s open all hours
”What are we doing here?”

You are never alone
in the Twilight Zone
”What are we doing here?”
• Founded in the “before” years of the mid-70’s... in Cleveland no less!
• Only band, to my knowledge, with their own manifesto and protocols
• Great new albums (St. Arkansas - 2002) as well as classic ones (Modern Dance - '78 & Dub Housing - '79).


Any other fans out there?

[egg-roger]

Final Solution is a classic!

[Frau_Blucher]

Definately a fan...in small doses. He vocalizations can get grating sometimes. But certainly the biggest eye-opener from being on the NWO has been the knowledge on the wealth of bands from that primordial new wave period from the mid to late 70s.

[bowiestation]

Been a fan since 1978.Love their early material !

[firefall]

Huge fan of early Pere Ubu,along with Cleveland's greatest mother-band the Rocket from the Tombs.David Thomas during 2004,was their leader at their exciting comeback,with the cd''Rocket Redux''.

[Surly]

Well, I was born and raised in Cleveland, so I was definitely into these guys! I have their box set [i]Datapanik In The Year Zero[/i] and I love it. I also love their song from 1993 called "Sleep Walk."

I used to manage a record store in Mentor, OH. Dave Thomas used to shop there occasionally. He came in once and bought some cutout cassettes of bands like Yello.

"Words like conviction can turn into a sentence"

[Dave]

Thanks for the feedback. But alas, it is as I expected. A total of only 5 people expressing interest for such an innovative and influential punk/postpunk band. Guess that's why they call it underground.

[Coen]

I'm defenitely into Pere Ubu. Saw them several time live in 180/81. My girlfriend at the time told me this was the music she put up while studying her exams at home, which she did at last days before the exam. Still wondering how she did that. She always called him the Big 'cuddly' Bear and a daddyo. [:D]

I think it is/was a good band, although I did never got into The Art of Walking. Every couple of years I'm trying again...

[firefall]

Talking about Cleveland's underground scene,anyone remembers the violent glam punks Left End? A band from early seventees,led by Dennis the Menace,a proto/goth,vampirice figure, with one album titled''spoiled rotten''.Among others huge fans were Stiv Bators,Chrissie Hynde and think one member of the then Dead Boys was part of them(maybe Cheetah Chrome?).Anyone has any info?

[Max Murdoc]

Left End was actually from Youngstown, Ohio. A friend of mine (David Le Masters) was in a late version with Dennis. The "Spoiled Rotten" album demands some high bucks (if you can find it).

While we're talking about Youngstown, there was a great band called "The Elements"...they used to play at a place called "Cedars" back in the early 80's. Did a great cover of "Enola Gay". What a time!

Max

[Dave]

Apparently Pere Ubu got a should out from Steven Colbert of the Colbert Report, the funniest show on TV IMHO. While speaking about Cleveland, Steven said:

"The city has spawned acts as diverse as Nine Inch Nails, Pere Ubu, and Eric Carmen. You know, the guy who sang 'All By Myself.' I would remind you of the tune by singing a little bit of it, but then I'd have to pay royalties to Eric Carmen, which is something I promised myself I'd never do."

Apparently flashed a pic of 'em too. Cool.

[KYYX4ever]

What is the proper pronunciation for their name, anyway?

I've only heard a few songs from these guys, but I like them. They grow on you. I have a feeling I would not have liked them back in the day, but now I can appreciate this type of music so much more. Definately an acquired taste.